FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
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Diocese of Brooklyn Launches Videos in Seven Languages to Prepare Catholics
as Churches Can Re-open for Weekday Masses on Monday

Weekday Masses in the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, can begin this Monday, June 29, 2020. The celebration of Sunday Mass can begin with the Saturday Vigil Mass on July 4, 2020, and on Sunday, July 5, 2020. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including the requirement that all who enter a church must bring and must wear their own mask during the entire Mass and maintain proper social distancing.

“Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens have been longing for the celebration of Mass and to receive the Holy Eucharist. But our sacrifice and patience have borne fruit, and we did our part to flatten the curve of the terrible coronavirus pandemic. Soon we can come together to be nourished by the spiritual food we have been desperate for,” said the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.

In preparation for the joyous day when Mass will resume, DeSales Media Group, the communication, and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, has produced videos in seven languages to give multi-lingual Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens an understanding of the changes they will experience as a result of COVID-19 safety protocols designed to keep everyone healthy and safe.

The videos were made in English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Creole, and Korean.

Beyond the requirement that parishioners must bring and wear their own mask during Mass, churches can only be filled to 25% capacity to fulfill social distance requirements of six feet between congregants. Families who live in the same household will be able to sit together.

The reception of Communion will be different. It is strongly recommended the faithful receive Holy Communion in the hand and they must leave their mask on when they approach the priest at a six-foot distance. When the communicant receives the Sacred Host, they should move to the side and consume the Eucharist immediately. Communion will only be offered in one form; the Precious Blood will not be distributed to the faithful at this time.

Since each church and parish is unique, the faithful should check with their individual parishes, parish websites and social media pages for specifics about the resumption of Mass and the safety protocols in place.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect until further notice.  As such, the Diocese urges anyone who feels sick in any way to stay home. Mass will continue to be broadcast live on the Diocesan cable channel, NET-TV, and streamed online.  NET-TV is available in the New York City market on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Fios by Verizon, channel 48.

“We have endured a period of great challenge, especially here in our Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens, but the Lord was with us all the way. Now in just over a week, we can come together and give thanks to Him, pray for the people we lost, and those still affected by the coronavirus. And rejoice in the celebration of the Liturgy. Thanks be to God,” concluded Bishop DiMarzio.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

BISHOP NICHOLAS DIMARZIO TO ORDAIN FOUR MEN AS PRIESTS TO SERVE THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will ordain four men as priests during a Mass of Ordination, to be held on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, located at 856 Pacific Street in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn.

Those who will be ordained include: one from Colombia who sought to serve in the United States where vocations are low; another who practiced religion despite Communist opposition in Bosnia; a man who was married with two children, who later got divorced and had his marriage annulled, because in his heart he felt something was missing; and one who saw the troubles of drug-related violence in Colombia growing up which in part inspired him to want to become a priest.

 

The four ordinands are:

*Rev. Mr. Nestor Martinez, born in Colombia and raised on a farm outside the City of Molagavita, felt the calling to become a priest at the age of thirteen. Later on, after achieving his goal and starting in the Seminary in Antioquia, he decided he wanted to go to a place that didn’t have enough vocations, and traveled to the United States. Mr. Martinez completed his seminarian studies in Connecticut and service in the Diocese of Paterson, and will be ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

*Rev. Mr. Peter Okajima, raised in a family that did not practice religion, is a late vocation who had a career in finance, was married with two children, divorced, and had his marriage annulled. Throughout his life, Mr. Okajima always felt in his heart that something was missing, which led him to the Church. Peter converted to Catholicism and soon thereafter, enrolled at the Pope St. John XXIII Seminary at the advice of Bishop DiMarzio.

Peter’s father was a Japanese translator for General Douglas McArthur’s team during the surrender aboard the USS Missouri at the end of World War II. Peter’s mother was held in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

*Rev. Mr. Gabriel Agudelo-Perdomo, who was raised in Bogota, Colombia, felt the calling to the priesthood at the end of high school.  However, the unrest in his hometown delayed his calling, but the drug-related violence in Colombia made his vocation certain. Deacon Agudelo-Perdomo’s brother, a priest in the Archdiocese of Miami, shared his brother’s wish to become a priest on a trip to New York City, and it was Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio who sent a priest in Colombia to interview him. Gabriel Agudelo-Perdomo was then accepted as a Seminarian of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

*Rev. Mr. Dragan Pusic, who was born in Bosnia, grew up under Communist rule. Despite the government’s dislike of religion, the Pusic family attended Church every Sunday, and Dragan served as an altar server from the age of 9 until he was 14. Mr. Pusic maintained a professional career, working in an industrial plant for over twenty years, until the company went bankrupt.  It was at this time that Dragan recognized that faith was playing less of a role in his life, and found his way back to God.  It was shortly thereafter that he arrived in the United States and began his studies at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Douglaston.

The Diocese of Brooklyn Ordination Mass will air live on the Diocesan’s cable channel, NET-TV, which can be seen on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Fios by Verizon, channel 48.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend the Mass. To RSVP, please email John Quaglione at jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Diocese of Brooklyn Churches Can Re-open for Weekday Masses on June 29
Celebrations of Sunday Mass Can Begin on the Weekend of July 4 & 5

 The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, is pleased to announce that churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn can re-open for Weekday Mass on Monday, June 29, 2020. The celebration of Sunday Mass can begin with the Saturday Vigil Mass on July 4, 2020, and on Sunday, July 5, 2020. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including the requirement that all who enter a church must bring and must wear their own mask during the entire Mass and maintain proper social distancing.

“Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens have been longing for the celebration of Mass and to receive the Holy Eucharist. But our sacrifice and patience have borne fruit, and we did our part to flatten the curve of the terrible coronavirus pandemic. Soon we can come together to be nourished by the spiritual food we have been desperate for,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

In preparation for the joyous day when Mass will resume, the Diocese of Brooklyn is launching a video today in English and Spanish to give Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens an understanding of the changes they will experience as a result of COVID-19 safety protocols designed to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Beyond the requirement that parishioners must bring and must wear their own mask for Mass, churches can only be filled to 25% capacity to fulfill social distance requirements of six feet between congregants. Families who live in the same household though will be able to sit together.

The reception of Communion will be different. It is strongly recommended the faithful receive Holy Communion in the hand and they must leave their mask on when they approach the priest at a six-foot distance. When the communicant receives the Sacred Host, they should move to the side and consume the Eucharist immediately. Communion will only be offered in one form; the Precious Blood will not be distributed to the faithful at this time.

Since each church and parish is unique, the faithful should check with their individual parishes, parish websites and social media pages for specifics about the resumption of Mass and the safety protocols in place.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect until further notice.  As such, the Diocese urges anyone who feels sick in any way to stay home. Mass will continue to be broadcast live on the Diocesan cable channel, NET-TV, and streamed online.  NET-TV is available in the New York City market on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; and Fios by Verizon, channel 48.

“We have endured a period of great challenge, especially here in our Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens, but the Lord was with us all the way. Now in just over a week, we can come together and give thanks to Him, pray for the people we lost, and those still affected by the coronavirus. And rejoice in the celebration of the Liturgy. Thanks be to God,” concluded Bishop DiMarzio.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Statement by Brooklyn Bishop DiMarzio on Today’s Supreme Court Ruling on DACA

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, has issued the following statement in response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling preventing the discontinuation of the D.A.C.A. program:

“Today the United States Supreme Court did the right and moral thing with its decision to halt the Trump administration’s attempt to end DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, based on humanitarian grounds. The high court recognized the intent of the law and also the human impossibility of affecting a change which would lead to the deportation of many young people brought to the U.S. as children.

The Dreamers came to this country with their parents, with no intent to break the law. For most of them, America is the only country they have ever known. Many dreamers have come and fulfilled their own American Dream, getting an education, and making a life their parents could only dream of. Today’s news reports highlight their success and their contributions to our country. In one it said ‘frontline health care workers involved in responding to the coronavirus epidemic rely on about 27,000 DACA recipients, “including dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, home health aides, technicians” and nearly 200 medical students.’

This decision is right and just for these undocumented youth, who have been victims in a fierce political debate and have been living under the constant fear of deportation. Deporting the Dreamers to unfamiliar lands would disregard their sacrifices, contributions, and immense potential. It would also be a great loss for our country.

Immigration is one of the most complex and controversial issues of our time. These past 50 years of my priesthood have been dedicated to assisting immigrants and refugees. Today, I am hopeful for our country, that this decision by the highest court in the land will lead to the comprehensive immigration reform we have been talking about for years.”

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Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has long been a national and international leader in the defense of migrants and newcomers. He is Chairman of the Board of the Center for Migration Studies. Bishop DiMarzio was a Member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. In addition, he has served as Chairman of the Migration Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Chairman of the Board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), and the representative from the United States to the Global Commission on International Migration, a United Nations-sponsored Commission.

Bishop DiMarzio also served on the Boards of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and the National Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Forum. He has chaired the Board of Trustees and is a member of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). In addition to the many leadership positions he has held, Bishop DiMarzio has published numerous papers and speeches and testified before Congress on migration issues on many occasions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

“Faith and America’s Original Sin:” A Currents News Special Broadcast on Racism in the Diocese of Brooklyn Takes an Introspective Look by Listening to African American Catholics

Currents News, the nightly program that covers news from the Catholic perspective on NET-TV, is airing a special broadcast that addresses the issue of racism and the progress being made in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“Faith and America’s Original Sin,” hosted by Currents News Anchor Christine Persichette, will air tonight at 7:30 pm on NET-TV, the cable channel of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The special program addresses the work of the Diocesan Commission on Racism and Social Justice, which was instituted by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio in 2017, after the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia.  The special features testimonials from listening session members and Commission members.

The Commission has been hosting listening sessions with African-American Catholics in the Diocese to hear their perspective. “I think it was very important that we listen to the people of our diocese to understand their experience of racism both in society and within the church,” said Auxiliary Bishop Neil Tiedemann, Chair of the Commission.

Father Alonzo Cox, Secretary of the Commission, said hearing stories of racism experienced by Catholics is necessary, painful as it is. “We went on to ask our participants how they have experienced racism. Many of them gave horror stories unfortunately of how people in the pews treated them, how they were treated by priests or religious and a lot of it is perception. They perceived that they felt treated differently because of the color of their skin,” said Father Cox.

“We are moving forward so that each and every one of us can come together to preach the word of God,”  said Father Cox. He also speaks of two late priests on the path to Sainthood, Monsignor Bernard J. Quinn, and Father Augustus Tolton.

Monsignor Quinn opened a church for African American Catholics, St. Peter Claver in Bedford-Stuyvesant, at a time when the color of one’s skin was a barrier to attending Mass. Father Augustus Tolton, who was born a slave, was the first African-American priest ordained in the United States. Father Tolton had to attend a seminary in Rome for no American seminaries at the time would accept him.

“It is incumbent upon all of us to broaden ourselves to get to know persons beyond our so-called circle of comfort,” said Judge Bert Anthony Bunyan, a Commission Member.

Currents News airs on NET-TV in the New York City market seven days a week. It’s available on Spectrum, channel 97; Optimum, channel 30; Fios by Verizon, channel 48.

“Faith and America’s Original Sin,” can also be seen on the Currents News YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/MEoqs_LdTJE.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org 

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL GRADUATIONS HIGHLIGHT STORIES OF HOPE AND SUCCESS

NET-TV Graduation Special To Celebrate Strong Foundation of Faith and Academics

 

The Diocese of Brooklyn and the Superintendent of Catholic Schools are announcing that tomorrow, Friday, June 12, 2020, Catholic elementary academies and schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens will mark the achievements of the Class of 2020 in a variety of ways, different from years past, as a result of the Coronavirus.

The Diocesan cable channel, NET-TV, is in a special way honoring the Class of 2020 with graduation tribute programming. The graduation series will highlight students of the 50 participating schools beginning tonight, Thursday, June 11, at 8:30 PM, continuing Friday, June 12 at 8:30 PM, and concluding on Monday, June 15 at 8:30 PM.  Tune in to NET-TV on Channel 97 (Spectrum), Channel 30 (Optimum), and Channel 48 on (Fios by Verizon) or on YouTube at NETTVCATHOLIC. For a complete schedule, including encore presentations, visit www.netny.tv.

The Diocese is further highlighting stories of inspiration and success of the members of the Class of 2020 from five of its schools.

St. Frances De Sales Catholic Academy (Belle Harbor, Queens)

Thirteen years ago, 11-month old Maggie Kelly was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. With much prayer, faith, amazing doctors, and support, Maggie, who doctors said would not survive chemotherapy, is now graduating 8th grade from St. Francis de Sales.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy was their family’s safe place.  They knew when they sent their oldest child who was three at the time that she would be loved and cared for while the family was busy taking care of Maggie. It was then time to enroll Maggie, and the family was recently quoted saying “We thank you for all of your patience, help and mostly the love you have shown Maggie over her years at St. Francis. With tears of joy, we will be forever grateful to all of you! Miracles do happen!”

St. Peter Catholic Academy (Bensonhurst, Brooklyn)

This year’s valedictorian, Samantha Chan, is the daughter of a healthcare worker. Samantha found her faith in the 4th grade at Saint Peter’s when Mrs. Alfeo, her teacher at the time and now principal, was teaching a religion lesson. At the end of the lesson, Samantha asked to become Catholic. Mrs. Alfeo is Samantha’s Godmother and Confirmation sponsor.

Due to the fear of the Coronavirus, Samantha and her younger sister were not allowed outside throughout the pandemic. The first time outside for Samantha was when Mrs. Alfeo and teachers delivered a graduation sign to Samantha.

Divine Mercy Catholic Academy (Ozone Park, Queens)

8^th Grader Brandon Wilk’s incredible academic efforts have made Brandon one of the students offered the most scholarship money ever to a student ever at the school. Brandon earned scholarships totaling $158,000 awarded from four Catholic high schools including Xavier, Cathedral Prep, Archbishop Molloy, and Regis High School, which he will attend in September on a full scholarship.

St. Sebastian Catholic Academy (Woodside, Queens)

This year’s 8th-grade valedictorian, Carolina Corcuera, is at the top of her class and follows a family legacy of school graduates. Her mother and aunts attended and graduated from St. Sebastian. Carolina has two younger siblings currently enrolled in the school, and her Mom is a board member of the Home Academy Association.

St. Bernadette Catholic Academy (Dyker Heights, Brooklyn)

The graduating Class of 2020 has two final graduates of two families who each chose St. Bernadette’s as the elementary school for their five daughters.  The graduation tomorrow, for both the Trantino Family and the Peralta Family, will bring an end to a 20 year run at St Bernadette’s.

For more information and to arrange interviews with these students, please contact John Quaglione at jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

A promotional graphic of the NET-TV special graduation special schedule is attached.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio delivers homily focused on Racism in our culture and Church

The Bishop highlights the work of the Diocesan Commission on Racism and Social Justice

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, delivered his homily on this Trinity Sunday at the 11 a.m. English Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, broadcast live on NET-TV, on the evil of racism and what society and the Church must do to bring about change.

“In our situation today as we see many protesting the horrible death of George Floyd, we recognize the anguish that comes from a deeper understanding of the inequalities in our own society and the burden that people of color must bear,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

In his remarks, the Bishop decried the violence and looting by people who purposely look to create anarchy in our society and destroy the rightful message of the protestors. As a Church and a family of faith, Bishop DiMarzio says we must stand and assist our brothers and sisters.

“Only when we find the love of God and bring that love to others will things change.” He also looked to the words of Martin Luther King, who said, “this time is cluttered with the wreckage of communities that have surrendered to hatred and violence. For the salvation of our nation and the salvation of mankind, we must follow another way. This does not mean that we abandon our righteous efforts, but we shall not in the process relinquish our privilege and obligation to love. This is the only way to create beloved communities.”

The Diocese of Brooklyn fully endorses the conversations currently taking place about racism. Only by talking about this difficult topic can there begin to be an understanding of what is still happening to people of color in Brooklyn and Queens, who make up half of our Diocese.

More than two years ago, the Diocese formalized these conversations. In 2017, after the Charlottesville, Virginia white supremacist demonstrations, Bishop DiMarzio established the Commission on Racism and Social Justice to look into racism within the Church. The Commission held hearings and received over 500 messages which have helped to understand the issues.

As a result of what it learned, the Commission held meetings with priests of the Diocese to help them understand how to preach about racism. There were also meetings with Catholic school teachers focused on teaching lessons aimed at preventing the seeds of racism from growing. “Racism is a learned behavior.  People are not born as racists.  Racism is learned in different ways, even if it is not taught specifically.  It is picked up by attitudes, feelings, and words.  We need to work in our Catholic schools where we have some influence to make sure that our young people today do not pick up the racist attitudes of the past,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

The Bishop acknowledged the Diocese has to do more to see how it can deal with the feelings and the reality that racism exists in the Church. “What we must understand is that societal change on the evil of racism must happen.”

 

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Video of today’s Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sje9zGZU0qo&feature=youtu.be

Courtesy: DeSales Media Group/NET-TV

10:53 – Homily by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio begins

14:11 “In our situation today as we see many protesting the horrible death of George Floyd, we recognize the anguish that comes from a deeper understanding of the inequalities in our own society and the burden that people of color must bear”

15:35 “What we must understand is that societal change on the evil of racism must happen”

14:47 Martin Luther King Jr in his wonderful understanding of non-violence once said that “this time is cluttered with the wreckage of communities that have surrendered to hatred and violence. For the salvation of our nation and the salvation of mankind, we must follow another way. This does not mean that we abandon our righteous efforts, but we shall not in the process relinquish our privilege and obligation to love. This is the only way to create beloved communities”

17:06 “Racism is a learned behavior.  People are not born as racists.  Racism is learned in different ways, even if it is not taught specifically.  It is picked up by attitudes, feelings, and words.  We need to work in our Catholic schools where we have some influence to make sure that our young people today do not pick up the racist attitudes of the past”

19:29 “Only when we find the love of God and bring that love to others will things change”

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

 

BISHOP DIMARZIO URGES CHRISTIANS TO BE FIERCE, BUT PEACEFUL, OPPOSITION TO RACISM

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, has issued the following statement regarding this week’s racially divisive events in Minneapolis and New York City that have sparked tensions in those cities and throughout the Nation, calling for our response to be peaceful in the face of the evil that is racism:

 

“In Minneapolis, a black man suspected of a crime was handcuffed and brutalized by a policeman, which caused his death. The same week here in New York, a woman called police on a man falsely claiming he was threatening her with harm – his only crime was being a person of color.

 

These instances have led to protests and violence since persons of color feel they have no recourse. We Christians must be fierce in our opposition to the evil of racism, but we must respond peacefully and remember the Lord’s call to us to love one another as He loves us.”

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-517-3112
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

CATHOLIC ACADEMY AND PARISH IN QUEENS COMMITTED TO NEVER FORGETTING HOST VIRTUAL MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE

The Diocese of Brooklyn is announcing that Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy and St. Anastasia Parish in the Douglaston section of Queens, hosted a virtual Memorial Day event this morning broadcast on YouTube and Facebook. To view the presentation, visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JIPUsJ

The virtual event paid tribute and honored members of the United States Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. The event included prayer, reflection and a special patriotic tribute to service members lost in the Queens community, as well as those who have died as a result of the Coronavirus.

Father Mark Bristol, a former priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, now U.S. Navy Chaplain stationed aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, recorded a video message for the virtual event. The program also featured an interview with Dr. Christopher Campese, an Academy parent and St. Anastasia parishioner, who discussed his service on the front lines during the Coronavirus.

The school recently hosted a Memorial Day essay contest and the two winning essays are read by the students as part of the program.

For any interview requests with the students or school leadership, please contact John Quaglione at jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
718-517-3143
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
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jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

Diocese of Brooklyn Churches Can Begin to Re-open for Private Prayer on May 26
Funerals, Baptisms, and Weddings can Commence Following Safety Guidelines

         The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, is pleased to announce that churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn can re-open for private prayer and devotion beginning Tuesday, May 26. Masks will be required of all who enter a church. Funerals and limited celebrations of Baptisms and Weddings can also begin.

“It has been a challenging few months for Catholics in Brooklyn and Queens. We know many people have eagerly been awaiting the day our churches would open. While we cannot celebrate Mass just yet, it is so important that we can now enter for prayer.  It is my hope that this will give many of our faithful great comfort during this difficult time,” said Bishop DiMarzio. Mass continues to be streamed online and broadcast on the Diocesan cable channel, NET-TV.

Beyond the requirement to wear masks, the Diocese urges anyone who feels sick in any way not to come to church for prayer. Entry to the church will be limited to ten people, as per New York State guidelines, and all who enter the church must maintain the six feet social distancing regulation at all times. Funerals, Baptisms, and Weddings will also be limited to ten people, with everyone required to wear a mask.

Additionally, the faithful are being asked to check with individual parishes for the specific hours their church will be open for prayer. Ushers and/or volunteers will be present to assist with social distancing.

Diocese of Brooklyn churches have been closed since March 20 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The reopening of churches is Phase 1 of a multi-phase plan that will ultimately lead to the resumption of Mass when there are no longer the government requirements limiting the number of people at a service to 10. The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect until further notice.

The Diocesan Committee on Re-opening Churches is being led by Joseph Esposito, the former New York City Emergency Management Commissioner, who brings 45 years of experience in the New York City Police Department, including his role as Chief of Department.

“We are consulting with medical and health professionals to ensure the safety of all priests and parishioners who enter Brooklyn and Queens churches. In my nearly 50 years of service to the city, this is one of the hardest issues I have had to deal with. The risks are great which is why we have to get things right the first time,” said Commissioner Esposito.

“As we begin the process of reopening our churches, we must understand that we will not be able to resume church life as we enjoyed it before. There will be a series of changes designed to keep everyone healthy and safe during prayer and worship.  I am confident that we will respond, as faithful People of God, to the challenges placed before us,” said Bishop DiMarzio.